Swan trumpet | Facts & Information

Origin

It can be found in Alaska, Canada, and the northern U.S. It varies between temperate and polar climates depending on temperature, habitat, and food. It is one of the heaviest birds that can fly.

It prefers large but shallow ponds with Clear Water, River wetlands, swamps in northern and Central North America.

In the 19th and 20th centuries the Swan was hunted much for both pleasure and feathers. Fortunately the species kept afloat. Efforts have been made to reintroduce the species to its original territories.

Read Also the flight of birds

Feeding the trumpet Swan

The trumpet Swan feeds most of the time in the water, and the main food is made up of plants after which it sinks only its head. In areas where it reaches dig with its beak after tubers and roots.

The chicks feed on insects, small fish, fish roe, small crustaceans rich in protein.

They also feed on plants. As they grow, within a few months, they change their diet on vegetation.

The daily routine varies from season to season. In winter they rest more and eat less, while in spring they consume large amounts of food and are very active during the day.

See also bird mating

Features Swan trumpet

The trumpet Swan is the largest living swan among waterfowl. Adults are usually 140-165cm long, but males can be 180cm long. The weight is between 8 and 14kg. Seasonal weight variations are possible depending on food availability.

The wingspan reaches impressive lengths of 185 to 250cm. The largest male had a length of 183cm, a wingspan of 310cm and a weight of 17kg. The chicks of the trumpet Swan have gray-gray feathers and a pink coic.

Adult trumpet Swans have white plumage. When swimming the neck is kept straight. The beak is black, it measures 10-12cm. And this is the longest compared to other swan species. Chicks and Young have the color of gray feathers for 12-15 months after birth. It is easily distinguished from other swan species by the color and shape of its beak.

Natural predators are Raven, raccoon, Wolf, american black bear, coyote, turtle, seagull, owl, Fox Lynx and river otter. These predators attack adults, eggs or chicks. When the family is threatened, the parents move their heads up and down, open their wings.

When the enemy approaches, he is struck with his wings and beak. Swans have very strong wings, they can fracture the hand of an adult man. If it is generally a peaceful, shy and graceful bird, when it comes to family it kills the predators it may face.

They gather in groups and fly in V. The most experienced Swans sit in front and the rest in the back. The latter are the young people with the least experience. In spring groups are almost half as large as in autumn because the chicks have become independent. A new mating season is approaching for the coming autumn to grow the group again.

Unlike the mute swan, the trumpet Swan makes various different sounds for various actions: when it feels threatened it makes a different sound than the one that makes it in the group or the one with which it "talks" with the Cubs. Besides sounds, it also uses tactile communication, the one through touch. It is a very social and graceful bird.

Breeding Swan trumpet

The trumpet Swan searches for its nesting sites close to open areas. They need space to fly. The place must be large enough to accommodate a nest with a diameter of 2m or more, it must be as far away from people as possible, in unfilled places.

The nest is made of mud, plants, twigs, leaves, feathers, etc.it can be used for several years in a row, and every year it is strengthened by both parents. Depending on the size of the birds or habitat, the size of the nest can be from 1.5 m to 3.5 m in diameter after repeated use.

Usually the trumpet swan, like other swan species, forms strong bonds and chooses a mate for life. There are very rare cases when the pair changes partner. If one of the partners dies for various reasons, it is possible that the remaining partner will not form a pair with someone else. Both parents participate in the rearing of chicks and incubation, but it is the female who sits on the eggs the longest.

Egg laying takes place in the months of April-May. The female can lay between 3 and 12 eggs, but usually lays 4-6 eggs. The eggs are 11 - 12cm long and weigh about 33 grams. Incubation lasts 30-37 days. Puppies can swim in two days and feed in two weeks.

During mating the trumpet swan can be aggressive and territorial. After mating, the adults can shed so much that for a short time there is a chance that they can no longer fly. Chicks have a 40% chance of survival on sabbatical due to predators, flooding of the nest, starvation and man. There are areas where conditions are better and all chickens have chances to reach maturity.